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Letters Patent No. 69,528, dated October 1, 1867.

i IMPROVEMENTS IN BOOTS ANDSHOl 'dige tlgehule tefrmh tu iii tigenrttets'ntrut ant making pitt nf tip same.

TO ,VALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, B. C. YOUNG, of Boston, in the county of Sublkl, andState of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Boots and Shoes;and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connection with thedrawings which accompany and form part of this specification, is adescription of my invention sulie-ient to 'enable those skilled in theart to practise it.

In those boots and shoes which are drawn upon the feet by pulling uponloops or straps'fixed thereto, the presence of such loops or straps isat all times objectionable, excepting for the purpose of putting on theboot or shoe, the strap being in itself unsightly, the fastenings bywhich it is attached to` the boot rende/ring the boot-leg rigid at thepeint of attachment, and causing it lto chafe the leg, and the materialof which the loop is made often breaking when it ispulled upon, leavingno provision for drawing on the boot.

To remedy these defects, I apply at the top and to the opposite sides ofthe boot or shoe-leg or upper, or to lthe hack and front thereof,buttons or knobs, firmly riveted, stitched, or otherwise secured to theleg or upper, these devices being of such form and so disposed that byplacing the fore-ringer of one hand under one of them,

' and carrying the thumbto the inside of the boot opposite thereto, andthen pinching the boot, (doing the same thing with the other hand at theopposite button on the same boot,) the boot may be thus readily drawnupon l the foot, the'protuberances made by the knobs or buttons enablinga rm hold to be maintained or preventing the fingers from slipping. Itisin such application of buttons or analogous devices to boot or shoe-legsor uppers that' my inve'ntiomconsists. The drawings represent a Congressboot embodying the invention- .A showing a side view, and B a back viewof the same.

a denotes the sole; b the np'per; c one of the elastic gol-es. Upon thefront and rear of the upper or leg, at the top thereof, are the buttonsd In the drawings each button is secured to the leather ofthe boot by arivet, but it may be fastened in place by strong stitches or otherwise,the outer part of the button or knob being of form and in position tobe. freely seized by the fingers.

It will readily he seen that the use of these devices obviates entirelythe objections attending the employment of leather or webbing-straps orloops, the buttons being not only strong in themselves, but being alsonot liable to become detached by strain upon theni. Moreover, they areornamental in appearance, and do not pro- `vject in against the leg ofthe wearer, and are never in posit-ion to cause any' annoyance inwalking. They-are less expensive than straps, and never require mending.

I do not confine my invention to any particular style of boots or shoes,although it is particularly applicable `to Congress or to long-legboots.

I claim a boot having buttons or knobs securely fastened to andprojecting from the opposite outer surfaces of the lieg, nearthetopthcreoi', or in suc-h position that by applying e. fore-fingerunder each button or knob, und a thumb to thc inner surface oppositesaid button or knob,the,boot may be securely grasped to pull it on thefoot, substantiallyas set forth.

' A .B. C. YOUNG.

Witnesses FRANCIS G-oULD, J. B. CROSBY.

